“BLACKWOOD!” Ruttiger roared a few moments after a servant hurried across to whisper in his ear. His voice reverberated across the shopfronts and townhouses, so filled with rage that it quieted even the mob. Calliope stood up and nodded to Kayden then crossed to the window without actually standing in front of it.

“No need to shout Ernst dear,” she called back insouciantly. Several of Kayden’s men made strangling sounds at the insulting tone she chose to employ.

“Are you trying to get us killed,” one of Otto’s knights demanded. Otto clouted the man across the back of the head to remind him of his place, though his own thoughts probably ran along similar lines.


“You think you are clever don't you, where is the gold you gave me!?”

“My my, can’t pay your debts AND can’t find your own money. I’m glad I’m not depending on you for my pay,” she called back, for the benefit of the mob and the miners stiffening it.

“I’ve been more than reasonable, but now I’m done talking, I’m…”

“But you persist,” Calliope called back in a disapproving tone she punctuated with a tut tut sound.

“ENOUGH!” Drag the witch out of there boys!” he snarled to his miners, a moment before a shower of stones and bottles struck the windows. Calliope closed her eyes and opened them again, the irises suddenly black and unseeing. Far above she wheeled with the crows, her wings spread wide as she observed the humans far below. It wasn’t easy to focus on them, her eyes continually tried to flick towards rodents in the thatch or carcasses of dead animals in the alley. She watched as dozens of them rushed at one of the large nests, and began to batter at the doors and walls. Calliope opened her true eyes and pursed her lips. Already she could hear the blows of miners pounding on the door, a few enterprising sorts were even beginning to batter on the walls with their pick axes.


“What should we do my lady?” Otto asked for neutrality. He wasn’t scared but he wanted to make the right decision in the next few moments. 


“Go down stairs and defend the house, try not to kill anyone if you don’t have to, but if it is them or you…”

“Yes My Lady,” Otto replied, unbuckling his sword and lashing the scabbard to the cross guard so it could be used as a club.

“Hold the first floor for as long as you can, then fall back to the stairwell and we will defend the second floor a little more…actively,” she directed. Otto nodded and hurried down stairs fitting his helmet onto his head. Calliope wondered if that was wise, an armored man was a threat, sword or no, and if this went from business dispute to battle it could get bloody.

“Is there anything you can do?” Kayden asked her.

“I can give orders,” Calliope replied, a slight tension in her voice betraying she wasn’t as cool and collected as she might want other to believe.

“No… I mean…” he wiggled his fingers. Calliope arched an eyebrow.

“Would you like me to kill everyone in a hundred yards of the house?” she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice.

“I see your point,” he replied.

“I tell you what, if things get bad enough and you have to kill someone, bring me the body, that might be helpful.”